Abstract

Research-intensive universities across the world recognise their privileged role as change agents in the global knowledge economy. Private higher education is a complex, highly competitive and differentiated environment that places unique demands on research managers and academics alike. This institutional case illustrates how we have sought to discover and understand the current research culture and the needs of the institutional stakeholders prior to implementing a research coaching and mentoring programme in order to promote research output and manage research diversity. The findings identified the existence of a young, yet diverse research culture with positive intent that either promoted research diversity and tolerance or inhibited equal research participation. The understanding and knowledge gained provided the basis for recommendations for developing a research coaching and mentoring programme in private higher education institutions.